This Sunday will be my first Ironman race.
I will be traveling with my usual extensive entourage (My mom, dad and wife).
I do not see any spectator guide or information on the Ironman site… but that’s okay, I have the collective experience of slowtwitch.com to draw on. … um, I mean, I do…right guys? (and gals).
What is the best way for them to travel around the course and arrive to see and (more importantly) support me through out the day(evening)?
They will have a car. My parents are fairly agile and spry (but my mom can’t walk quickly for long distances).
Anybody have suggestions? any success stories? Insider tips? Local secrets (go ahead and I.M. me if you want, I won’t share your secrets with a sole. promise.).
I believe there is a shuttle that runs from downtown Madison to the Verona loop. They could see you in Verona, grab a bite to eat in Verona and then see you a second time and grab the shuttle back to Madison. Madison is very easy to get around for the run.
They’ll have a pretty good spectator’s guide online or at the expo. They can watch the swim, swim exit, then drive out to Verona and catch you finishing up the first loop pretty easily, stay for the 2nd, and then get back to town to catch you all over the place on the run. It’s easy to get around.
Swim: From top of Monona Terrace, then down to the end of the helix on the bike out side. Great view of the athletes as they begin their rides
Bike: Verona
Top of Old Sauk Pass or Timber Lane Climb (Park on the corner of Old Sauk Road and Timber Lane) (Loop 1)
Midtown Road Climb (Drive up Midtown Road and park before you reach the IM course. Short walk to the clib from there. (Loop 2)
Run: Anywhere on state street. You can also park by the UW Baseball field and walk to the run course over by Picnic Point
Swim - Just about anywhere will have a good view. The Helix is a great elevated view but will fill up early. It is a great way to watch people run after the swim. The running path along the lake is elevated so it has a good view as well.
Bike - If they are going to take the time to go see you on the bike - make sure they are stationed at one of the longer hills. Sitting in Verona just to see someone go screaming by at 25+ mph is not that great IMO. I would suggest the last part of the climb into Mt. Horeb (just at the overpass…Hwy 18 I believe), Old Sauk Pass climb (They can probably access it via Hwy 14) or Midtown Road Climb. There will be a lot of spectators at the last two (the first will not have as many) - but it is a great way to see people struggle up the hills! Verona is good if you want a “festive” place to hang out.
Run - Along State Street. They can catch you within the first mile - walk down to the turn around at mile 6.5 (about 2 blocks…but you will be taking the long way) and catch you there. If I remember correctly - there is a lot going on near the 6.5 mile turnaround. Then it is just a short walk back to the 13 mile turn around and you get to do it all again.
I do not see any spectator guide or information on the Ironman site… but that’s okay, I have the collective experience of slowtwitch.com to draw on. … um, I mean, I do…right guys? (and gals).
Here is the link to the Athlete’s guide - http://www.ironmanwisconsin.com/2007IMWSAI.pdf. On page 7, there is something mentioned about a free shuttle from Madison to Verona. Page 10 also mentions aomething about Information Booth.
I was a volunteer/spectator last year. In my opinion, the bus to Verona is a time trap and should be avoided. The line to get on the bus to ride to Verona wrapped around the block. By the time I would have gotten out there, I would have surely missed my friend on the bike. I stuck around the convention center/expo area, and got a great opportunity to cheer my friend through T1 and T2 and then catch him on the run about 4 times.
My suggestion to your family: get a good spot to watch the swim start. It is a sight not to miss and was the most amazing part of the IM spectating. The terrace on the back of the convention center was a great spot. Get yourself a coffee, then head to the convention center and get a spot near the T1 transition area. There were great spots in and around the convention center to watch the athletes get on their bikes and head out. Great time to cheer them on.
The fun part comes at T2. The riders enter the convention center to grab their bags, then run across the hall to the change room. The short spot between the two rooms is a GREAT place to watch the athletes come through and it has the added benefit of being temperature controlled and without the elements. We were able to see my friend through the hall and then jum outside to watch him run out of the change room and head out onto the run. Then, we walked around downtown and caught him about 3 times on the run course since it was a double loop.
Good luck on your IM. IMMoo was a very well-run and spectator friendly race. Hopefully it doesn’t rain 16 hours straight this year!